ARBIL, Iraq, 7 August 2005 — Iraqi Kurdistan President Massud Barzani warned yesterday there would be no compromise on Kurdish constitutional demands.

“We will not accept that Iraq’s identity is Islamic,” Barzani told an emergency session of the autonomous Kurdistan Parliament in the northern city of Arbil.

He also rejected suggestions that Iraq be termed an Arab nation.

“Let Arab Iraq be part of the Arab nation — we are not,” the Kurdish leader said.

Kurds are predominantly Sunni Muslims, but they want Iraq to remain secular and reject any notion of an Iran-style theocracy.

Shiite-based MPs have suggested that Islam be “the main source” of future legislation, while the Kurds insist on it being only “a source” of future legislation.

Barzani said issues proving difficult in the drafting of a national constitution included “the identity of Iraq, the borders of Kurdistan, the future of the peshmerga (Kurdish militias), natural resources and article 58” of the interim constitution which deals with the status of the northern region of Kirkuk.

During the 1980s, Saddam Hussein pursued a policy of “Arabization” in Kirkuk, driving out tens of thousands of Kurds and replacing them with mainly Shiite Arabs to consolidate his hold over the oil-rich city.

Kurds want this policy reversed and the city included within a federally-autonomous Kurdish zone.

“This is a golden chance for Kurds and Kurdistan — if we don’t do what is important for Kurdistan there will be no second chance,” Barzani said.

“We will not make our final decision in Baghdad. The Kurdish Parliament will decide,” he added.

Kurds are insisting on a federal structure for Iraq since they are keen to preserve the de facto autonomy enjoyed since their enclave was declared a “no-fly zone” by western allies in 1991 after the Gulf War.

Barzani insisted that Kurds did not want to delay the process of finalizing a new Iraqi constitution, but he told MPs there would be no compromise on Kurdish demands.

Barzani offered assurances that the independence-minded Kurds were not seeking to secede from Iraq, but indicated that a rejection of Kurdish demands could threaten Iraq’s unity.

“If they want us to be a part of Iraq they should guarantee our rights,” Barzani said.